Main opposition party seeks reconciliation with Gwangju

Rep. Joo Ho-young, new floor leader of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP), pays tribute to the victims of the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy movement with other UFP members at the May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju, Monday, the 40th anniversary of the 1980 uprising. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) is seeking “reconciliation” with the people of Gwangju, trying to make up for the distorted and disparaging remarks made by some of its far-right members about the history of the city where hundreds of citizens were killed by Korean military forces.

The UFP's new floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young and other prominent members of the party visited the city, Monday, to attend a ceremony at the May 18 Democracy Square to mark the 40th anniversary of the May 18 pro-democracy movement of 1980. President Moon Jae-in and leaders of other political parties, including the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, also participated in the commemoration.

Following the ceremony, Joo and other UFP members also visited the May 18th National Cemetery to pay tribute to victims of the crackdown on the pro-democracy uprising against then-Army General Chun Doo-hwan, who had seized power in a military coup in late 1979. Chun officially became the president of Korea on the 1st September 1980, just months after the massacre.

The conservative party has come into conflict with people from the southern city in recent years, as some of its members made repeated disparaging remarks against victims of the brutal military massacre and their relatives. Last year when then-party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn attended a ceremony for the 39th anniversary, a physical clash took place between the party members and Gwangju citizens.

But this year, there was no such clash, and this may be partially because of the changed stance which the main opposition party's leadership has shown in recent days.

“We should overcome conflicts and scars of the May 18 pro-democracy movement and move toward a harmonized Korea with the spirit of the movement,” Joo said during his visit to Gwangju. He met officials from organizations related to the movement and promised to pass a bill ensuring better treatment for the bereaved families of the victims.

Two days before his visit to the city, Joo also issued a statement to apologize for its members' past remarks, such as those referring to the activists as a “rioters” and suggesting that the movement was involved with the North Korean regime.

“Our party has never derogated the spirit of May 18 pro-democracy movement. But some of our members have made disparaging and insulting remarks. I apologize to the victims, their bereaved families and the people who were offended,” Joo said in the statement.

“The wrongdoing by some individuals should not be misunderstood as the party's stance and create unnecessary disputes.”

When asked about action being taken against the members who made the disparaging remarks, however, Joo said he couldn't implement any disciplinary measures against them as the party had already done so. But criticisms were that the punishments were too light ― Rep. Kim Jin-tae received a “warning,” and Rep. Kim Soon-rye had her party membership suspended for three months. Only Rep. Lee Jong-myeong was expelled from the party.

Other parties welcomed Joo's apology to the citizens of Gwangju but said the UFP should prove its sincerity by making a continuous effort to recover the reputation of the uprising victims which they had tarnished.